Redskins’ Griffin redefines QB speed

Given the chance to plunge headlong into the NFL Films library, in search of the greatest runs by a quarterback, you’d become immersed in the spectacular.

There’s Steve Young running without a helmet, Michael Vick in full flight, wonderful improvisation from Marlin Briscoe and Randall Cunningham, wildly evasive scrambles by Fran Tarkenton and Roger Staubach. You’d get a look at Bobby Douglass and Steve McNair, maybe a clip or two from Cam Newton’s rookie season.

There wouldn’t be anything quite like Robert Griffin III’s 76-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

It was a simple thing, really, a broken play that saw Griffin dart through the center of the line, veer to his left and then turn the corner. But this was a level of pure speed we haven’t seen before, not from a quarterback. As teammate Santana Moss said afterward, “You’re watching a track meet – and he ain’t coming in second.”

Griffin was just a week removed from a concussion, and people along the Washington Redskins’ sideline were yelling “Slide, slide!” with hopes he’d glide safely out of bounds. That’s when Griffin unleashed a brand of speed that shocked the NFL, a wake-up call reminiscent of Bob Hayes’ debut as a wide receiver so many years ago. He turned that corner and it was over.

The play – Griffin’s sixth rushing touchdown of the season – sent people scrambling for their stopwatches as they watched the replay. Timing the last 40 yards, the Washington Post and CBSSports.com registered 4.08 and 4.3 seconds, respectively. Granted, Griffin had a running start; he was also in full football gear, and he was looking back at the Vikings’ defensive backs over the last 20 yards or so.

Everyone knew that Griffin chose the NFL over a shot at making the U.S. Olympic team in the 400-meter hurdles, but even his teammates hadn’t seen this level of speed in practice. “That was a big deal, man,” said Redskins fullback Darrel Young. “Because everyone’s fast in this league.”

And once Griffin broke free, there was an audible change of heart along the sideline.